I still remember the first time I stepped onto to New York City pavement.

It was April of 2015. I was seventeen, a junior in high school, and a young girl with big dreams of making it to the city one day to work in the fashion industry. Picturing that I was Carrie Bradshaw, I twirled down the streets of Manhattan envisioning a bright future. I am sure everyone else walking down the street was just wondering who the crazy, twirling girl was.

I had plans of attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) for college. My dream school to attend. My senior year of high school I worked meticulously on college applications to several schools in New York, but FIT was constantly on my mind.

However, I was still applying to schools in the Midwest.

My counselor, who I owe endless thanks to for the rest of my life, found Mount Mary University through an article written about alum, Donna Rico’s, dress that Michelle Obama wore. He suggested that I apply to Mount Mary and apply for the Caroline Scholars program. A full ride scholarship to college.

I applied, not thinking I would ever receive the scholarship, but I remember the day I received the flowers and phone call that I was one of the six freshmen recipients. I was blown away with appreciation and thankfulness, but a part of me was so torn on the inside.

The day my financial aid reward arrived in the mail in late March from Mount Mary, was the same day my acceptance letter from FIT arrived. The once starry-eyed and twirling girl with dreams of going to NYC for university was suddenly hit with the toughest decision of her life thus far. Accept the scholarship and give up my dreams of studying fashion in NYC at my dream school, or go to my dream school and carry a large financial burden for the rest of my adult life.

I ultimately chose going to Mount Mary University. Looking back now, it was the right decision. Although I have been through a lot both mentally and emotionally with making that decision and constantly wondering if I made the right choice, I always just look around me and I see all the strong, wonderful, encouraging women I am surrounded by, especially my best friends Ashley, Carlie, and Sarah, and then I know that I made the right choice for myself at this point in my life.

Going to NYC always holds a special place in my heart because no matter how busy, how intimidating, or how competitive it all may seem, I always remember that seventeen year old girl who did not care about any of that noise, but rather about the opportunities, diversity, culture, and excitement the city has to offer.

This past October right before my twentieth birthday, I had the opportunity to travel to NYC again with the Fashion Department at Mount Mary. My adventures will be highlighted in the next two posts.

I will also be posting college information for other students seeking to study fashion, and I will go further into my own experiences, triumphs, and failures in high school and thus far through college.

Until then, please enjoy the beauty that NYC has to offer through my photos and personal accounts.

This week I am bringing a special edition of Trend in the City to highlight the amazing time that I had this past Friday at the third annual Milwaukee Fashion Week. This year the event was held at the Milwaukee Athletic Club.

My friend, Sarah, came as my date and we had an incredible time witnessing up and coming designers and models in the Milwaukee area.

There were some Mount Mary alumni in the show, including Angela Vang, and her beautiful and innovative designs that she first premiered at the Mount Mary University CREO Fashion Show in Spring 2017. (I have included images from her collection from the Mount Mary University CREO 2017 Fashion Show). I was lucky enough last spring to walk in her incredible designs and they definitely did not disappoint at this year’s Milwaukee Fashion Week.

Another designer that had just the most beautiful garments was Vic·Tor. Tori Sterr’s collection, in addition to Angela’s, was my favorite of the night. You could tell all the way from the audience that each garment was so beautifully tailored.

If you are a designer in the Chicago/Milwaukee area and would like to be featured at Milwaukee Fashion Week 2018, I would definitely look into applying. All of the information can be found on their website: http://milwaukeefashionweek.com. There are also many opportunities for hairstylists, photographers, makeup artists, models, and journalists.

I love seeing firsthand all of the talent and creative spirit that individuals in Milwaukee have to offer.

When I started college in Milwaukee a little over a year ago, I was surprised by the styles that the people here were wearing. I thought that since Milwaukee is only about two hours north of Chicago, that the styles and trends would be quite similar, but they were actually quite different.

Living in Wisconsin for about a year now, I have noticed that most Wisconsinites tend to dress a bit more conservatively than Chicagoans. Whether it be in hem length, color schemes, and/or widespread trends.

Even in the Chicago suburbs, the styles and trends that I am used to wearing were a little bit on the edgier side compared to the suburbs of Milwaukee. I think that the nature of fashion and trends here has a great deal to do with the occupations held in the surrounding areas, and the weather. Many families are farming families that live in nearby areas and are maybe less inclined to be interested in the latest trends, much less splurge on new trends. Whereas in Chicago, where the occupations are in a more urban setting, people are willing to go out and shop more to keep up with trends.

When I walk a few blocks away from my parking meter to my internship on Water Street, I see one common trend: layering. Whether it be a woman walking her dog in a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt, and a pullover sweatshirt, or another woman wearing high waisted jeans with a v-neck and a chunky sweater, she most definitely is layering.

Layering is a good way to stay warm in cold Wisconsin seasons, but it also a way to look fashionable, while staying a bit more on the conservative side of fashion. I have even found myself layering more often when I go out with my friends here than when I am in Chicago.

I will revisit other areas in Wisconsin soon, and I hope to update you as well on any new Milwaukee-specific trends I uncover.